Moving up the grand staircase, Elizabeth carried the suitcase under her arm as she moved slowly. The case was dragging her down, but she knew that someone had to move everything eventually. Tommy had insisted that they hire a maid, but Elizabeth had been against that. She had lived with maids for most of her life with Billy and she never liked the way they spied on her. While she knew that Tommy would not hire a maid to spy on her, she also did not like the idea of hiring someone for the house.

Then again, the house was big. It was far too big for her to maintain, even more so considering she was set on becoming a teacher and helping out at the local school near where Tommy worked.

"Liz!"

Stopping on the staircase, Elizabeth turned around, her cheeks reddening and her hair falling down from its up-do as strands landed in her face. Looking down, she saw Tommy move with haste to the staircase, pulling his coat off from his body and draping it over the bannister as he moved up the stairs, rolling his sleeves up before taking the suitcase from Lizzie's hands.

"I thought I told yer not to move anythin' too 'eavy, eh?" Tommy asked from her as she dropped her hands to her hips and followed her husband up the staircase.

"Well, it was not that heavy," she counteracted. "Besides, how much more do we have left to pick up from the house in Birmingham?"

She followed Tommy along the landing as he moved towards the bedroom they had claimed for themselves. He pushed the door open and placed the case on the chaise longue while Elizabeth went to open it and grabbed the clothes from it, moving over to the wardrobe to hang them up.

"We don't 'ave that much left," Tommy said. "I asked Pol to box our things up, but we do need to go out and buy more furniture…make this place a 'ome."

"How much do we need to buy?" Elizabeth asked from him. "Besides, you must have spent a fortune buying this place, Tommy. How can we do afford much more furniture?"

Tommy chuckled before moving to wrap his arms around her waist, his chin resting on her shoulder. Elizabeth finished hanging up his waistcoat before moving her hands to rest on top of his. She bent her head back and Tommy's lips found her neck before his hand moved up her side and cupped her cheek delicately.

"Don't worry about money," he urged her. "We 'ave plenty."

"How?" Elizabeth asked of him. "I know that your business is a success, Tommy, but there are your brothers and Aunt Pol. Surely they want a big mansion?"

Shrugging, Tommy released his wife and delved into his pocket for his cigarettes. Elizabeth shut the wardrobe and moved around their bedroom, still placing items in their place as Thomas smoked and sank down into the chair by the window.

"I'm the boss," Tommy said. "Besides, John and Esme are 'appy livin' in the 'ouse and Pol has her own place with Michael."

"And Arthur?"

"He's a loose cannon," Tommy said. "Besides, he's with Esme and John until he can find somewhere to settle down…and he's got Finn. If they all want a 'ouse then they can get one…there's enough, Liz."

"And it is all legal?"

"Most of it."

"Tommy," she complained.

"Liz," he mocked her back, smirking as he stubbed out the cigarette in the ashtray on the small side table. "Don't worry. It's fine. We're in charge around 'ere now. We've got no Campbell to worry about."

"But we do have Churchill," Elizabeth reminded him. "And I'd rather not risk you again, Tommy. It's not as if you have the police on your side, is it?"

Tommy looked away from her gaze then as Elizabeth watched him, her eyes widening and her mouth slowly gaping wider as she moved towards Tommy, her hands in her skirts as she sat on the arm of Tommy's chair and he dared to move to rest his hands in her lap before peering up to her.

"You 'ave nothin' to worry about," Tommy spoke.

"You have bought the police," Elizabeth said. "The police…Tommy…"

"No one knows because we do everythin' above board," Tommy promised her. "And the police won't say anything because…well…they won't."

"I don't like this," Elizabeth said and Tommy took hold of her hands.

"You don't need to like it, Liz," Tommy assured her and she pursed her lips firmly as her husband ran his thumb over her knuckles multiple times as she contemplated what Tommy was telling her. "You just need to know that nothin' will 'appen to yer or that one in there. We're all safe, eh?"

"I thought that this was all over, Tommy," Elizabeth complained to him. "I thought that you were going to do everything legally. Even if you do something illegal…just a small thing…it cannot be worth the risk, can it?"

"Eh, we're not talkin' about illegal things like before," Tommy promised her. "We're just…well…maybe we cut corners, yer know, with taxes and things like that."

"But even still," Elizabeth complained, moving to stand up as she ran her hands up and down her stomach and wandered through their bedroom, her dress crumpling under the movements she continuously made as Thomas watched her with intrigue, his own hand moving into his waistcoat to reach for another cigarette.

"And we still have no idea what Churchill wants-"

"-I'll worry about that when it 'appens," Tommy declared and Elizabeth dropped her hands to her hips to turn to look at him, wondering how he could be so nonchalant about everything in life.

"But what if it is bad, Tommy?" she dared to ask him. "How can you keep putting things like this off? How do you not worry?"

"Because you do enough worrying for the pair of us," Tommy answered back. "And that ain't 'ealthy, is it? Yer carrying our child and yer keep stressin'."

"Because my husband does nothing but cause me stress," Elizabeth complained and continued to unpack from the case that rested on the dresser. "And…well…I also need to tell you something too."

Thomas puffed out smoke from his pursed lips as he folded one leg over the other as Elizabeth placed her possessions down on the dresser, arranging her bottles of perfume and brushes neatly and in order as her gaze remained set on that, clearly proving she was unsure of what to say to her husband on the matter she wanted to approach.

"You remember Mary?" Elizabeth asked.

"Mary?" Tommy's brow furrowed and Elizabeth nodded.

"Billy's wife," Elizabeth reminded him.

"Aye," Tommy spoke.

"Well, she wrote to me today," Elizabeth continued, putting the empty case underneath the wardrobe as she noted the fraying of the rug laying underneath the wardrobe. "She is selling the Manor…moving over to France with a man she met. She seems happy, but she wants to come and see me…apparently Billy…in his will…I…I benefit from it."

Tommy knew full well what was going through her mind as he watched her tug on the frayed rug, trying to pull the edges off and clean it up. She eventually won and tossed the string into the bin in the corner of the room by the bathroom. Sighing, Tommy took one last draw of breath on his cigarette before he stubbed it out again and stood up, pulled his waistcoat down and moved to her.

"I do not want it," Elizabeth said, her eyes wide as Tommy's hand on her waist drew her gaze up to him. "I want nothing to do with him…even now…now he is dead…his money…it was father's money and after what he did I want nothing to do with the money."

Nodding, Tommy pretended to understand her, his hands moving to clasp hold of her waist. But the truth was that he did not understand. Money was money to him. He didn't care where it came from. No doubt Elizabeth would hardly appreciate where most of his money came from. But money was simply money. It did not matter where it came from. And so all Tommy could pretend to do was understand.

"So what yer goin' to do?" Thomas wondered.

"I do not know," Elizabeth said. "I know it is ungrateful of me to throw money away, but a part of me thinks that I should either tell Mary to keep it or donate it."

"And yer really don't want it?" Tommy checked, wondering if he should push her on this.

They didn't need money. Tommy was earning enough money for the pair of them and Elizabeth was determined to start work in the coming few weeks at the local school.

"I would rather earn my own money than live off of his," Elizabeth said, her voice low and harsh. "Besides, I am going to the infant school next week for a trial. It might not pay as much as Billy's money, but it would be mine and not his."

"Do what yer 'ave to do," Tommy urged her, pressing his lips to her temple. "I've never been one to make yer mind up."

….

Sitting in The Garrison, Elizabeth looked around as the rest of Tommy's family held tightly onto their glasses of whiskey as they sat around the large table in the private room. Elizabeth sat near the edge of the long curving bench, Tommy beside her, a cigarette in one hand and a whiskey in the other. Elizabeth kept quiet as she remained sat down, her own hands simply holding a water.

"What do yer reckon, Tommy?" Arthur called out. "Yer gonna 'ave a boy or a girl?"

Tommy continued to smoke silently and Elizabeth looked up to him, noting that he was giving nothing away with his slim smile. It was that small she doubted anyone even noticed he was smiling.

Esme and John looked at each other and Elizabeth caught the glances they exchanged. She had barely met Esme, but she had heard that Tommy had been influential in bringing her into John's life before she had reconnected with Tommy. She had also not truly known Michael, but there was something about the boy that Elizabeth did not know whether to trust. He was a young man, but he seemed to enjoy the company of Arthur and John a little too much. Elizabeth did not pretend to know that her husband was innocent, but she liked to suspect that he was gentler than his brothers.

"Wouldn't know, Arthur," Tommy declared. "Reckon it's gotta be a boy…he's kickin' already."

Looking down to her stomach, Elizabeth arched a brow. "Are you saying that girls cannot be as determined as boys?" she asked from him and he chuckled before Pol let her lips quirk into a smile, her silk blouse crumpling as she folded her arms over her stomach.

"She's right," Esme piped up. "Us girls can be just as brutal."

"And don't I know it!" John called and Arthur and Michael laughed.

"I'll go and fetch another bottle," Elizabeth said to Tommy as the jeers continued and he looked to her.

"I'll knock on the hatch."

"No," Elizabeth said, her hand moving to his arm to stop him. "I need a moment anyway."

Tommy nodded in understanding as he watched her stand up and move into the pub, the yells and laughs staying behind her as she closed the door and made her way over to the bar. She leaned against it, her arms crossed as she felt the bar stick on her bare forearms. Looking down the bar, she saw Grace move up to her and stand still.

"I did not know you would still be working here," Elizabeth confessed to the blonde barmaid. "I mean…I…"

"I know what you meant," Grace promised her, automatically placing a bottle of whiskey on the bar. "After everything that happened…I did consider going home. I have nothing here anymore…I no longer work for Campbell…and Tommy…"

There was an awkward moment between the pair as they left that unsaid. Elizabeth looked down to the bar, her hair falling in her face as Grace observed the young woman before noting her growing stomach.

"But I suppose I should congratulate you," Grace said. "It must be a shock."

"You could say that," Elizabeth smiled, her hand automatically going to her stomach. "After everything that has happened it feels like the beginning of something else…something better…I hope, anyway."

"You deserve that," Grace said, her voice sincere. "After what I saw…when you saved me from your brother. I never had a chance to thank you properly for that."

"You did," Elizabeth said.

"But I want you to know," Grace said. "And then I told Campbell about you. I made some bad choices and I never should have done some of the things I did. You…I could have been hurt if you had not come in when you did."

"I know," Elizabeth whispered, trying not to think of her brother as she looked Grace in the eye. "He…he did not enjoy treating women properly."

"I could tell from the bruises on your arms," Grace said.

"Well, he just enjoyed hitting me," Elizabeth said. "I do not wish to know what he did to other women…I do not know what he did…"

There was a long pause between the two of them and Elizabeth took hold of the bottle and stood up, sniffing once and trying to stop herself from remembering the days before Tommy had returned to her. They would do her no good.

"There are no feelings of ill will," she declared. "I hope we can agree on that."

Grace gave a small nod alongside a small smile. Elizabeth knew that it was forced, but she did not dare to question it. If they could keep up pretences then that was all that mattered. Elizabeth wondered if she could even trust Grace after what she knew about her and her work alongside Campbell. Then again, Grace had been the one to save Elizabeth when she had needed her most. She suspected that she had Grace to thank for Tommy not being locked up in a jail cell.

"We can," Grace said. "Anyway, you should get back to the rest of them before they wonder where you are."

Elizabeth smiled at that part and she shook her head as a loud raucous noise left the room where the Shelby's were holed up.

"I am in no rush," Elizabeth declared. "I love Tommy to pieces, but his family…well…I know that they are not exactly fond of me."

"I doubt they are fond of many people," Grace responded.

"You are right on that one," Elizabeth said. "No, I know they accept me for Tommy's sake."

"Liz."

Elizabeth turned around as Tommy stood in the doorway of the room, his arm resting above his head as his other hand held a cigarette in his fingertips. Looking to him, Elizabeth held up the bottle of whiskey and moved back towards Tommy.

"Got it," she said.

Nodding, Tommy moved his arm to the small of her back and guided her back into the room. His gaze caught Grace's for a moment as he watched her with wonder. There was still a part of him that was weary of Grace, but there was also a part of him that had a soft spot for her. That was why he kept her on, even after he found out that she had betrayed him.

Giving her a solemn nod, Tommy shut the door to the room and turned back to his family.

Laying in bed on a Saturday morning was bliss. Elizabeth had almost finished unpacking all their belongings and all she had left to do was finish deciding where everything should be put. Tommy seemed to enjoy the luxuries in life and not a day went by where he hadn't bought something for the house.

Peeling her eyes open, Liz could just make out that the space next to her was empty. Her arm fell down to the side to confirm that Tommy was not besides her. Sighing, she sat up, propping herself on her elbows before she looked around the bedroom. She almost screamed in shock at the sight of Tommy saw at her vanity, his gaze on her in the bed as he leant forwards with his hands resting over his thighs.

"I 'ave to go."

Frowning, Elizabeth let the duvet fall down to her lap as she ran her hands over her eyes.

"What?" Elizabeth asked out of confusion. "Where are you going?"

"Business."

"On a Saturday?" Elizabeth questioned him, knowing full well that something was amiss with him. Keeping quiet, she continued to stare at Tommy as she watched him stand up and pull his coat over his arms.

"Yeah," Tommy merely said and Elizabeth frowned.

"And is that it?" Elizabeth demanded from him. "What is happening, Thomas?"

"Nothin' for yer to worry about," Tommy told her, moving over to the bed to sit on the edge of it. "I'll be back after lunch. Pol said she was goin' pop round this mornin' and give yer a 'and with the house."

"Do not try to change the subject," Elizabeth demanded from him, shaking her head as she reached for his forearm. "Is this something to do with Churchill?"

He said nothing else and Elizabeth inhaled a sharp breath, knowing full well that it was. His silence betrayed him. Frowning, Elizabeth moved her hand up his arm and took hold of his cheek.

"Tommy," she whispered his name softly. "What is it? Tell me. I am your wife and I thought we didn't keep secrets."

He kept quiet then, looking into her eyes before he pecked her on the forehead. "I'm keepin' the secret to protect yer…believe me, eh?"

Elizabeth didn't get a chance to question him any further for he stood up, checked the watch from his waistcoat and moved towards the door. Scrambling from the bed, Elizabeth glowered over to the door.

"Do not walk out of that door," she demanded from him and he stood still, but didn't turn around to look at her. "Tommy."

Turning his head over his shoulder, he looked back to her and shook his head before whispering the words that Elizabeth hated to hear from him.

"Just trust me, eh?"

….

A/N: Let me know what you think!